6. The first four pages are for hand lettering practice.
(At the workshop, the alphabet was written in script on the board and samples of different types of hand lettering were providedo for every table- —letters embellished with curls, shading, dots, strips, spaces)

8. Write your name on the inside of the front cover using a combination of hand lettering styles.

9. Write the name of the month on each of the printed paper dividers.

10. Choose one virtue/value you want to reflect on for each month. Use hand lettering to write it on each divider.
(At the workshop, the participants were asked to suggest the virtues they would like to work on. They made a list on the board, and they chose 12, one for each month).Examples of VIRTUES: Respect, Generosity, Industry, Joy, Helpfulness, Love, Care, Simplicity, Fairness, Happiness, Obedience, Sincerity

Happy New Year to all of you from your friends at the Museum of Naïve Art [MoNA] in Cebu.

Recently, the MoNA, in cooperation with the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes (Psych Vols), organized a workshop for women and children in difficult situations. It was a simple activity with a very important message – what society might perceive as trash can still be repurposed and revitalized.

The project: Turning old tarpaulin banners into useful book bags and day packs (workshop concept and facilitation by Edna Lee of Psych Vols)

It is with great pleasure that we share with you our most recent workshop “Beary Fun”, which took place last Saturday, Nov 25th. The project concept and materials were prepared by Zed Lee of the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes (Psych Vols) while the actual workshop was facilitated by Edna Lee also of Psych Vols, and another regular MoNA volunteer Wae Seon Yun.

The workshop participants were women and children in difficult situations.

A pattern, some old jeans material and a set of instructions were provided by Zed Lee. Here are the steps:

First Step: Trace pattern on the underside of fabric.

Second Step: Sew along tracing – using running or back stitch to create the Teddy bear shape inside out. Leave about 3 inches open/unstitched to give you room to insert filling/stuffing (preferably on the side of belly or top of the bear’s head)

Third Step: Give about 1/2 inch allowance and cut around the tracing/stitching

Fourth Step: Now bring the pattern side to the outside by pulling it through the 3 inch opening.

Fifth Step: Stuff your bear and stitch up the opening (slip stitch)

Sixth Step: Embellish/dress -up your Teddy Bear with buttons, patterned fabric and laces. You may also add extra details using a sharpie or acrylic paint.

Final Step: Hug your Teddy Bear and share its story with the group.

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Here are the girls with their Teddy Bears…

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Fun groupings of the Teddies…

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Everybody gets the chance to share their stories…

You can tell from our volunteer Wae Seon’s face how much she enjoyed the BEARY FUN workshop..

Here’s a group photo of the Teddies…

Here’s a group photo of the Teddies and their creators. Photo also shows facilitators Edna Lee and Wae Seon Yun

Special thanks to Zed Lee, Wae Seon Yun and Edna Lee, the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes, West Gorordo Hotel and My Refuge House.

“You really don’t have to be young to find a friend in a teddy bear.”
-Rachel Newman

“There’s just something about a Teddy Bear that’s impossible to explain. When you hold one in your arms, you get a feeling of love, comfort and security. It’s almost supernatural.”
-James Ownby

“Teddy bears don’t need hearts as they are already stuffed with love.”
-Unknown

A couple of weeks ago, the MoNA, in cooperation with the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes, West Gorordo Hotel and My Refuge House, facilitated an intercultural workshop for a group of young girls in difficult situations. The workshop was facilitated by Wae Seon Yun, a Korean Language and Culture Mentor from Busan, South Korea.

Here are some photos from the workshop. As you can see everybody had a lovely time expressing themselves by means of the Korean language and cuisine.

Show and Tell. The girls said that when they saw the display from the workshop yesterday they wondered if they could possibly make something so beautiful. And they did! Their works were just beautiful!

Love and gratitude to MoNA’s visiting artist YASHA DABAS for sharing her time and talents with the girls. ..the time together was memorable and the work- -simply amazing!

23 Rangolis in 1 Room! The mini rangolis of the MRH girls displayed alongside the bigger rangoli art created from the previous day’s community workshop, also facilitated by MoNA visiting artist Yasha Dabas

Maayong Buntag Kapamilya Segment Producer Nichee Orocio recently interviewed Paulina Constancia for a special feature on the ABS-CBN morning program. The segment was televised on Friday, February 24th.

There was special interest in MoNA’s on-going exhibition “Spontaneous Strokes” which was an output of an expressive arts workshop facilitated by artist Paulina Constancia for young survivors of violence and human trafficking.

Producer and cameraman pose with the birds at MoNA

Maayong Buntag Kapamilya aired the MONA feature on Friday, February 24th.Click on this link to watch episode on ABS-CBN

It was a lovely afternoon of art making at the MoNA with My Refuge House girls. Resident artist Paulina Constancia showed the girls how they can make art just using their fingers.

First, they were made to explore emotions through fingerprinting…

Then there were more exercises in creating fingerprinting design, but the main output of the session was the creation of a peacock using fingerprints..

Check out the MRH girls’ masterpieces – simply amazing!

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Thank you girls for inspiring us at the MoNA with your rainbow renditions of the majestic peacock.

We had a special guest dropping by during the workshop – retired Professor Thelma Lee- Mendoza, She was formerly professor and chairperson of social work in the College of Social Work and Community Development of the University of the Philippines, from which she retired in 1999 after 37 years of service. One of the girls who’s a Social Work student happened to recognize her–“you are the author of my textbook!”
FYI- Thelma Lee-Mendoza is Paulina Constancia’s auntie.

Art created by 13 young girls rescued from difficult situationsExpressive Arts Workshop Facilitated by Paulina Constancia

This exhibition is made possible by the Paulina Constancia Museum of Naive Art [MoNA], West Gorordo Hotel, the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes and My Refuge House (MRH)

About the Collection

The works on display here are outputs from a recent expressive arts workshop facilitated by Paulina Constancia for 13 girls who have been rescued from difficult situations. The girls were tasked to make random brush strokes on paper using watercolor. At first, they were confused with what they were doing and where their art was going. However, when they were done painting in the colors and were asked to look at their work from different angles, they were able to figure out the hidden message amid the layers of colors. The girls were quite surprised how a simple activity afforded them a window to their inner world.

The Crusade for the Rights of Women and Children

West Gorordo Hotel (WGH), through the Museum of Naïve Art [MoNA] Outreach Program, is a shining example of how a private institution can crusade for the rights of women and children.

MONA partners with the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes to facilitate expressive and experiential therapy for different women’s rights groups and their community partners.

Art is a constant agent of transformation and is indeed the soul’s drive to health.
– Cathy Malchiodi
The Soul’s Palette: Drawing on Art’s Transformative Powers for Health and Well-Being”

Monday, December 19th, Paulina Constancia conducted an expressive arts workshop for 13 young girls from My Refuge House. The participants were asked to do some spontaneous strokes using watercolor on paper without any specific images/details in mind, just to give the subconscious the opportunity to speak up and let itself be known. Afterwhich, participants were made to look at their painting from different angles and try to figure out what it’s about and what it means to them.

Poster-invite for Spontaneous Strokes workshop

Here are the girls working on their Spontaneous Strokes:
Here is a sample output of the workshop.

Spontaneous strokes by Mandy, 22

Title : Wild Life of Elephant

Artist’s Name : Mandy

Age : 22

A Little About My Work

I drew this painting because of my experience before and after MRH. I felt tense while I was drawing this painting because I remembered my struggle, and how I have accomplished things that make me proud of myself. I’m getting nearer to the future.

Mandy, 22 sees an elephant in her painting

The output of the Spontaneous Strokes workshop will be on display at the lobby of West Gorordo Hotel. Exhibition details will be posted very soon…

Paulina Constancia had the pleasure of turning over the Project Baby Pink collection to My Refuge House (MRH). Present at the simple turn-over ceremony were Rose Anne Obenque of MRH, American Psychologist Dr. Yvonne and husband Wig.

The Project Baby Pink collection is seen here turned over to Rose Anne Obenque of My Refuge House and American Psychologist Dr. Yvonne.

Paulina showing some of the PBP collection and title cards to Dr. Yvonne.

Yesterday, Paulina Constancia had the honor of being a guest on TV. The show is called “Sa Mata sa Kababayen-an”(In the Eyes of Women) on CCTN- Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN)Program Host: Atty. Virginia Palanca-Santiago, President of Law Center Inc.Co-Anchor: Fe CabatinganPhotos courtesy of Charity Escoton (Production Assistant- Media Advocacy, Law Center Inc)

The program provides psychosocial and legal advice to women in adverse circumstances like domestic violence, human trafficking, marital discord, separation, child custody… Paulina Constancia was interviewed in connection with the Paulina Constancia Museum of Naive Art [MoNA] and its efforts in providing expressive arts programs for women and children in different circumstances including those who are survivors of violence and human trafficking.